Pre-OCI 2020 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Have folks been emailing recruiters directly or applying online?

I did an informational interview last years, received an invitation for a callback interview recently (without having reached out myself) and received an offer yesterday. Others I've talked to have emailed recruiters directly. For the firms I've applied to online, I haven't heard anything and it's been a couple weeks.

[covid2L]

Has anyone heard of much movement in Boston or Chicago? I've heard of a little movement in Boston, but my schools not in either market so I don't have many contacts in either who can give me much intel.

[nickdrake]

I go to a T30. Multiple people in my class have begun interviewing at V20s in Chicago, NYC, and DC. Offers have also already gone out (some have posted on LinkedIn that they've accepted an offer).

Do you know what the typical timeline is for a pre-OCI screener to a callback invite?

[becodalapa]

Has anyone heard of much movement in Boston or Chicago? I've heard of a little movement in Boston, but my schools not in either market so I don't have many contacts in either who can give me much intel.

I know of several interviews at the top Boston firms. Haven't heard of any offers yet.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard of much movement in Boston or Chicago? I've heard of a little movement in Boston, but my schools not in either market so I don't have many contacts in either who can give me much intel.

I know of several interviews at the top Boston firms. Haven't heard of any offers yet.

Do you know if Goodwin is included in this "top Boston firms" category? Asking for a friend... literally, friend applied to Goodwin NY and BOS offices.

[covid2L]

Has anyone heard of much movement in Boston or Chicago? I've heard of a little movement in Boston, but my schools not in either market so I don't have many contacts in either who can give me much intel.

I know of several interviews at the top Boston firms. Haven't heard of any offers yet.

Do you know if Goodwin is included in this "top Boston firms" category? Asking for a friend... literally, friend applied to Goodwin NY and BOS offices.

Yes, at least in Boston

[Anonymous User]

Does anybody know if a pre-oci screener gives you a higher chance of getting callbacks as opposed to the OCI screeners? (assuming that your interview performance stays the same) Or does this depend on the firm?

[aliciacflorrick]

Does anybody know if a pre-oci screener gives you a higher chance of getting callbacks as opposed to the OCI screeners? (assuming that your interview performance stays the same) Or does this depend on the firm?

In my experience pre-COVID, there is no such thing as a pre-OCI screener. It’s straight-to-callback. If you land an interview by mass-mailing before OCI, most of the firms invite you to the office for a full round of interviews. About 2 out of 10 firms screened me on the phone first, and both led to callbacks.

Perhaps pre-OCI does include screeners now because of how easy it is to screen people virtually. If that’s the case, then I’m not sure there are any reliable statistics out there telling us the screener-to-callback ratio for pre-OCI since pre-OCI screeners are largely a pandemic-specific practice.

[purplegoldtornado]

Does anybody know if a pre-oci screener gives you a higher chance of getting callbacks as opposed to the OCI screeners? (assuming that your interview performance stays the same) Or does this depend on the firm?

In my experience pre-COVID, there is no such thing as a pre-OCI screener. It’s straight-to-callback. If you land an interview by mass-mailing before OCI, most of the firms invite you to the office for a full round of interviews. About 2 out of 10 firms screened me on the phone first, and both led to callbacks.

Perhaps pre-OCI does include screeners now because of how easy it is to screen people virtually. If that’s the case, then I’m not sure there are any reliable statistics out there telling us the screener-to-callback ratio for pre-OCI since pre-OCI screeners are largely a pandemic-specific practice.

This is accurate.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hear about any movement from DC firms on interviews pre-OCI?

[Anonymous User]

Offer at a V20, upcoming callback at a V10, both in NY. Forwarded my resume/transcript to alumni after networking call. Above median at T14. Hope this is helpful.

[Anonymous User]

Offer at a V20, upcoming callback at a V10, both in NY. Forwarded my resume/transcript to alumni after networking call. Above median at T14. Hope this is helpful.

Thanks for the data point. Did you have screeners for both firms or did you go straight to callback after the alumni call?

[Anonymous User]

did a callback last Thursday V30 firm in LA market. Haven't heard anything. Does this mean I'm out?

[Anonymous User]

did a callback last Thursday V30 firm in LA market. Haven't heard anything. Does this mean I'm out?

[Anonymous User]

Any movement in the LA market?

[Anonymous User]

If a firm asks if I want to set up an "informational call" after I submitted my application online, is this a screener or purely just an informational interview for me to get to know the firm.

[Anonymous User]

Does anybody know if a pre-oci screener gives you a higher chance of getting callbacks as opposed to the OCI screeners? (assuming that your interview performance stays the same) Or does this depend on the firm?

In my experience pre-COVID, there is no such thing as a pre-OCI screener. It’s straight-to-callback. If you land an interview by mass-mailing before OCI, most of the firms invite you to the office for a full round of interviews. About 2 out of 10 firms screened me on the phone first, and both led to callbacks.

Perhaps pre-OCI does include screeners now because of how easy it is to screen people virtually. If that’s the case, then I’m not sure there are any reliable statistics out there telling us the screener-to-callback ratio for pre-OCI since pre-OCI screeners are largely a pandemic-specific practice.

This is accurate.

I recently had a screener with a v10 firm in Houston and a classmate of mine had a screener at a different v10 firm in Houston. So they're definitely doing screeners in Texas.

[Anonymous User]

Also above median at T14. Have offer at NY V10 firm, callback at another NY V10 firm (as in, both top 10 in NY, where I am pursuing, not necessarily overall). Also went through the informal process of networking turning into callbacks.

[Wubbles]

If a firm asks if I want to set up an "informational call" after I submitted my application online, is this a screener or purely just an informational interview for me to get to know the firm.

This is a screener

[Reese1]

If a firm asks if I want to set up an "informational call" after I submitted my application online, is this a screener or purely just an informational interview for me to get to know the firm.

This is a screener

I would prepare for it like a screener, but I had one of these that was an info session before by real interview.

[covid2L]

Has anyone heard of any movement from WilmerHale east coast offices?

[MovingForward212]

Also above median at T14. Have offer at NY V10 firm, callback at another NY V10 firm (as in, both top 10 in NY, where I am pursuing, not necessarily overall). Also went through the informal process of networking turning into callbacks.

Can you give anymore info? Above median at T14 doesn’t really help others much

[Anonymous User]

Also above median at T14. Have offer at NY V10 firm, callback at another NY V10 firm (as in, both top 10 in NY, where I am pursuing, not necessarily overall). Also went through the informal process of networking turning into callbacks.

Can you give anymore info? Above median at T14 doesn’t really help others much

For sure. I can say that it is considered a prestigious school with national firm placement. A significant number of alums work at the firm where I have an offer. As for that firm, they handle high-profile commercial and litigation matters, among other categories where they are among the best of the field. Currently they are WFH. Hope this helps.

[becodalapa]

Also above median at T14. Have offer at NY V10 firm, callback at another NY V10 firm (as in, both top 10 in NY, where I am pursuing, not necessarily overall). Also went through the informal process of networking turning into callbacks.

Can you give anymore info? Above median at T14 doesn’t really help others much

For sure. I can say that it is considered a prestigious school with national firm placement. A significant number of alums work at the firm where I have an offer. As for that firm, they handle high-profile commercial and litigation matters, among other categories where they are among the best of the field. Currently they are WFH. Hope this helps.

You realize that this is just a longer way of saying "Above median at a T14. Have offer at NY V10 firm," right?

[Anonymous User]

Offer at a V20, upcoming callback at a V10, both in NY. Forwarded my resume/transcript to alumni after networking call. Above median at T14. Hope this is helpful.

Thanks for the data point. Did you have screeners for both firms or did you go straight to callback after the alumni call?

Straight to callback after the alumni call. I will say my GPA (from 1 semester of grades lol) is above the median offer GPA for my school at each firm and I am URM in the law firm context. From what the hiring people at these firms are saying, they aren't very far along in the process at all.